Betta fish are popular for their vibrant colors, such as deeper reds, oranges, blues, and yellows. If you suddenly notice some color loss, you have to focus on the primary cause of this condition.

Let’s get to the reasons why your better fish is turning white and what you should do to stop the problem.

Why is my Betta Fish Turning White?

The main reasons your betta fish is turning white are lack of real plants, stress, low water quality, poor diet, bullying from other fish, and poor lighting. 

1. Lack of Real Plants

Live plants in your aquarium are great for your betta fish. They help purify and clean the fish bowl’s water while providing a natural and beautiful betta fish setting.

Some betta species, like the Splendens, are found in rice paddies with thick vegetation. This means they thrive better in actual marine areas. Their color may change if they stay in a tank with unnatural plants.

2. Stress

Stress can also cause your betta fish to turn white. Their living space could have unfavorable properties such as low-quality water, fish bullies, rotting foods, and much more. All these aspects contribute to stress that leads to color fading.

3. Poor Water Quality

High levels of nitrates or ammonia can be dangerous to your betta fish. Ammonia poisoning occurs when your fish tank’s Ph levels are high, offsetting the normal nitrogen cycle and making your betta lose color.

Poor water quality can also damage your fish’s gills and sometimes cause it to turn white. Always ensure the water quality is conducive to your pet to avoid these problems. 

4. New Environment

Introducing your betta to a new environment can cause its color to fade before it adapts to these changes. The area might need adjustments, such as water PH levels, temperature, and water quality, before you bring in your pet.

5. Poor Diet

Another contributing factor to betta fish color loss is a poor diet. Feeding your fish too high or too low a protein level is dangerous to them. It’s not ideal to feed your fish with huge chunks of food, like frozen bloodworms. Chopping down the food makes it easy for your betta to swallow it.

You can also get expert advice from a fish professional on the perfect diet for your betta fish. There are various fish food brands in the market, giving you a wide range of choices for your pet. 

6. Tank Bullies

Often, betta fish are bullied by larger aquatic pets living in the same tank, prompting them to lose their colorful profile. This also results in stress, and their vibrancy becomes darker.

While bullying cases may be rare, it’s important to understand the temperament of other fish in the tank and ensure they are compatible to share space with your betta before introducing them to the aquarium.

7. Inadequate Light

Your betta fish can turn grey due to poor lighting. If the room has no lighting system, you might notice some dullness and whiteness in your fish. Some color changes are too intense, making your fish appear almost see-through.

8. An Underlying Illness

Examples of underlying diseases causing color loss in your betta fish include odd swimming behavior, white spots, bloating, grey fins, and flashing. The latter occurs when the fish rubs itself against an ornament, object, or gravel. If you notice these symptoms, consult an expert and get your fish treated for the illnesses.

What to do When a Betta Fish is Turning White

The following will offer a quick relief to the problem

1. Add Real Plants

Use natural plants in your betta fish aquariums. They act as hiding places while offering enough water purification. What’s more, the flora makes the tank feels more natural and entertaining for the fish.

Remember that live plants offer more oxygen to clear out any ammonia, harboring beneficial bacteria. And even the vegetation reduces algae problems to provide a natural and conducive fish environment. 

2. Change the Environment

If you notice that stress is the primary cause of your betta fish losing its rich color, consider the environment and check if it meets all the requirements. Always consult a fish expert if unsure of what the fish tank needs.

Remove any rotting food that has been there for over an hour. This prevents murky-looking water and encourages your betta to feed correctly. 

You should also monitor your fish’s behavior before and after these changes. This gives you a better idea of the dull-looking profile and helps you improve the condition.

3. Eliminate Or Reduce Ammonia Levels

Don’t panic after using a test kit and confirming that the ammonia levels are high. The following steps will guide you in eliminating the excess ammonia.

Change the water: Change at least 50 percent of your aquarium water. This helps swap out the ammonia water with a less ammonia-filled one. Similarly, you’re clearing out any dirt buildup caused by fish waste.

Introduce cycled filters: When you add another filter, the bacteria eat ammonia while lowering the levels. This is ideal for someone with multiple tanks to make the process much easier.  

4. Change the Water

Sudden water changes for your betta can lead to fading and stress. If you recently bought your fish from the pet store, consider the correct water parameters, including temperature and quality. In case of high nitrate levels, perform a 25 percent water change.

There’s no need to use fancy tools when changing the water. Use a simple gravel vacuum or a jug for the water change. Then, repeat this process every day as you test the water until it reaches a safe chemical level. 

5. Introduce a Balanced Diet

It would be best to strive to give your betta a healthy living environment to keep it healthy and colorful. A balanced diet comes in handy, especially meals with adequate proteins like freeze-dried daphnia and betta pellets. Moreover, to make the betta healthier, mix in some live worms and prevent overfeeding.

6. Separate the Fish

The easiest solution to prevent fish attacks and fights is to separate them. Buy another fishbowl and let each have personal space, as fish are very defensive towards their species. 

Ensure the species are intended to coexist with each other. For instance, Betta and Cichlids thrive best on their own, while the smaller freshwater species like guppies work better in groups. 

7. Add a Light Source

Turn on a light source like a lamp next to the tank and ensure you leave it on for a few hours. This will greatly affect the fish because of the direct correlation between the level of light exposure and the intensity of color. What’s more, the light causes a more intense and lively color than rooms with no light sources.

If providing a light source doesn’t help as much, you can feed your fish with safe color-enhancing foods. Most of these meals are easily accessible in pet food sections, including spirulina, herring, salmon, and brine shrimp. They promote good health and coloration in betta fish thanks to high protein levels and carotenoid pigments. 

8. Confirm the Illness Causing the Color Change

Betta fish illnesses are subdivided into three: bacterial, parasitic, and fungal. Ensure you pinpoint the root cause of the problem to prevent death. For example, a new fish in the tank can cause parasitic ailments, while poor-quality water can lead to bacterial sicknesses.

After full recovery, the good news is that your betta fish’s color will start getting brighter. 

Conclusion

When your betta fish starts turning white, it can get frustrating. You imagine all those colorful reds, deeper blues, reds, and oranges fading away. Fortunately,  the simple solutions provided here will help you understand the cause of your betta’s color loss and how to regain its initial look.

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